Improved bed-bottom



UNITED STATES PATENT HIRAM BARBER, OF JUNEAU, W'ISUONSIN.I

IMPROVE!) BED-BOTTh/l.

Speeilicaton forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,2%1?, dated December 23, 1862.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it-lrnown that l, Hman BARBER, of Juneau, inthe county of Dodge and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and lmproved Spring Bedlottom, with a Hospital Attachment; and l do hereby declare that the following' is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the an neXed drawings, making a part oi' this speciiication, in which- Figure l is a perspective View, showing bedstead with part of post and side rail broken out so as to show the manner of raising and fastening headslats. l `ig. 2 is a perspective view of a spring; and Fig. 3 is a view of a section of the main slat, also of the headslat and the metallic sheath covering the headslat and their connection.

The letters refer tothe same parts in all the iigures.

Letter A represents the spring. B represents shaft for raising the head; C, the pulleys; D, the ratchet; t', the dog or pawl; c, the key or crank for working the shaft; F, the headslats; G, the main slat; H, the cord for raising the head; J, the cross-bar to which the head-slats are attached; E, the metallic case attached to the main slat and covering the end of the head-Slat; o, the cross-bar to which the springs are suspended.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

rlhe bottom consists of slats running lengthwise of the bed, resting upon a spiral spring at each end ot' the bed, which is suspended to a cross-bar fastened at the head and foot, the slats passing under the cross-bar and resting on the base o1" the spring which is upward. lhe spring is a conical spiral, which is not truncated, but inverted, and passing up through the center of thespring, with a hook turned on its end, by which it is hung to the cross-bar and becomes self-suspending. A slot in the end ot' the slat Gr admits the central wire to pass through the center of the slat resting upon the base of the spring. The cross-bar o, to which the spring is sus pended, is notched in front, so as to admit the wire of suspension, thereby preventing any lateral motion of the slat or spring. l

also attach to the bedbottom, thus com'a pleted and fitted for common use, an arrangement ior raising and lowering the head of the bed. This consists in placing upon the main bottom another, which l term a false bottom,77 consisting of an equal number ot' slats fastened to a cross'slat lying upon the cross-bar, to which the main bottom is suspended. These slats F, resting on the main slats G, extend about one-third the length of the bed from the head to the foot, their lower ends being secured in their places over the main slats by a metallic sheath, E, which is fastened to the main sla-t G below the end of the head-slat F, extending up on to it, with a iiange on each side passing down far enough to secure the headslat from any lateral motion or displacement, serving also when raising and lowering the head of the bed to prevent the end of these slats from coming in contact with the bed or mattress. At each side of the head of the bed within the posts are grooves litted for the crossebar, to which the head-slats are i'astcned to slide up and down in. To each end of this crossbar J is fastened a cord, H, which passes over a pulley, c, and is fastened to another pulley on the shaft B, which is fastened to the bedstead, at one end of which is a ratchet-wheel, D, and dog e, and operated by acrank attached at e, as shown in the drawings in the form of a key. This crank is so constructed that when not in use it is taken oftl from the shaft. By operating the shaft and the ratchet and dog the head of the bed can be raised or lowered without any material derangement of the bedding or disturbance to the occupant, and retained in any position that may be required. This attachment being intended mainly for the benefit of the intirm and the sick, l term it a hospitalattachment.77

Vhat l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination and arrangement ofthe springs A, cross-bars 0, sla-ts G and F, and sheath E, with or without the devices for raising and lowering the slats F, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

HIRAM BARBER. Witnesses:

ELI HAwKs, D. W. HALL. 

